Retaining Clip for Releasable Fixing of Modules Strung Together on a Distributor Bar

ABSTRACT

A retaining clip for releasable fixing of a plurality of modules strung together on a distributor bar for forming a module series, wherein the distributor bar has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry with two legs as well as a back wall and the two legs, have a plurality of recesses. The retaining clip has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry with two retaining clip legs as well as a connecting bar between the two retaining clip legs, whereby the two retaining clip legs each have at least one detent, which may be brought into locking engagement from the outside into respectively two opposite recesses of the distributor bar, such that the retaining clip may be snapped onto the distributor bar for securing the modules of the module series from lateral displacement in the longitudinal direction of the distributor bar with this.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of the German patent application DE 10 2005 062 191.0 filed on Dec. 23, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a retaining clip for releasable fixing of a plurality of modules strung together on a distributor bar for forming a module series, whereby the distributor bar has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry with a first and a second leg as well as a back wall and the first and the second leg have a plurality of recesses.

In the manufacture of electrical distributors, modules, for example, electrical and/or electronic modules or the like strung together on a distributor bar, are fixed on both sides with known end pieces onto the distributor bar and tightened with attachments screws with a torque wrench. In this manner, a lateral displacement of the module series formed from a plurality of modules on the distributor bar is avoided. If necessary, the attachment screws are secured additionally with a fixing wire from unwanted release. The mounting of the known end pieces is therefore laborious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a retaining clip, which may be attached easily and quickly to the distributor bar and which simultaneously is secured from unintended release.

This aim may be achieved by a device with the features of patent claim 1. Embodiments are incorporated in the dependent claims.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention the retaining clip has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry with a first and a second retaining clip leg as well as a connecting bar between the first and the second retaining clip leg, whereby the first and the second retaining clip leg each have at least a detent, which are lockingly engageable and snappable, respectively, from the exterior into respectively two opposite recesses of the distributor bar, such that the retaining clip, by attachment onto the distributor bar is lockable with this for securing the modules of the module series from lateral displacement in a longitudinal direction of the distributor bar, leading to a fast and simple mounting. Securing of the retaining clip against unintended release by a fixing wire may be eliminated, whereby the mounting effort, compared to the known end pieces that may be attached by screwing, is simplified.

An exemplary embodiment of the retaining clip contemplates that an underside of the connecting bar of the retaining clip in the state of being snapped together with the distributor bar rests substantially on respective ends of the first and second legs of the distributor bar and engages over the distributor bar in this manner, whereby the detents may be inserted into the corresponding recesses of the distributor bar in a substantially positive-locking manner.

In this manner, a fixed seating of the retaining clip on the distributor bar is permitted.

A further exemplary embodiment contemplates that the retaining clip is releasable again from the distributor bar by pushing apart the retaining clip legs.

In this manner, the retaining clip with a handle is releasable from the distributor bar.

According to the features of a further exemplary embodiment of the retaining clip, the detents each have at least two beveled detent surfaces.

This embodiment ensures an easy locking of the retaining clip into the recesses of the distributor bar.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the connecting bar has at least sectionally a different material thickness, in particular an inclined cut.

As a result of this structure, the retaining clip may be inserted also onto distributor bars, in which the first and second legs are formed of different lengths.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connecting bar has different widths, in order to make possible in the longitudinal direction of the distributor bar length equalization.

In this manner, length equalization, in particular with the stringing-together of modules of different widths on the distributor bar, with both-sided attachment of the module series with the retaining clip of the present invention, may take place. To this purpose, the retaining clips each may be made to be stepped with different, standardized width dimensions. In this connection, it is sufficient to vary the widths of the connecting bars. The width of the retaining clip may remain unchanged. Alternatively, the length equalization also may take place by correspondingly wide “blind” or “dummy” modules.

According to a further exemplary embodiment variation, the connecting bar has at least one recess, in particular at least one bore.

A suitable fixing tool, in particular, a screwdriver or the like, may be guided through the bore in the connecting bar for screwing on the distributor bar onto a corresponding subconstruction, so that a premature snapping out of the retaining clip or retaining clips is not possible. This is particularly important when the lengths of the module series—including the retaining clip or both retaining clips—corresponds approximately to the length of the distributor bar and the attachment screws for screwing on of the distributor bar to the subconstruction were covered by the connecting bars of the retaining clip or retaining clips. The through-going bore in this connection may have a cylindrical or oval cross section (elongated hole).

According to the features of a further exemplary embodiment, the retaining clip is formed as one piece with a plastic material.

This embodiment first permits a sufficient electrical insulation. In addition, the manufacture of the retaining clips is simplified, for example, in an injection molding method. Further, the use of the plastic material makes possible a resilient-elastic structure of the retaining clip leg, so that the retaining clips engaged on the distributor bar may be removed easily from this, by simply pushing apart of the retaining clip legs as needed. It is particularly preferable if the retaining clip is formed with a fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic plastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a distributor bar with a retaining clip of the present invention for securing a module series from displacement in the longitudinal direction of the distributor bar;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional representation through the retaining clip; and

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment variation of the retaining clip.

The same constructive elements have the same reference numerals, respectively, in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a distributor bar 1 with a module series 2 disposed thereon. The module series 2 is formed in the exemplary embodiment shown with a total of five modules 3. The modules 3 may be any electrical and/or electronic components, for example. The distributor bar 1 has a first leg 4 and a second leg 5. The first and the second legs 4, 5, are connected to one another by a back wall 6, so that the distributor bar 1 has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry.

In the first and second legs 4, 5, a plurality of recesses 7 are positioned. The recesses 7 each have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional geometry, but also may have a geometry deviating from this and may be square-shaped, for example.

In an end region 8 of the distributor bar 1, the retaining clip 9 of the present invention is disposed, that is, snapped onto the distributor bar 1 or locked onto this. The retaining clip 9 serves, in particular, for avoiding displacement of the module series 2 in a longitudinal direction 10 of the distributor bar 1.

The retaining clip 9 has a first retaining clip leg 11, a second retaining clip leg 12, a well as a connection bar 13 connecting the first and second retaining clip legs 11, 12 in the rear. For attachment of the module series 2, the retaining clip 9 is simply attached onto the distributor bar 1 and releasably snapped together with the recesses 7. By pushing apart or spreading apart the first and second retaining clip legs 11, 12, the retaining clip 9 may be released again from the distributor bar 1 as needed.

The connecting bar 13 has a width 14. The retaining clip leg 11, 12 in the shown, preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 has approximately the same width as the connecting bar 13.

The width of the retaining clip leg 11, 12 as well as the width of the detents, covered in FIG. 1, arranged on the inner side on the retaining clip legs 11, 12 generally is selected, such that it is somewhat less than a length 15 of the recesses 7 for ensuring the ability to be snapped together with the corresponding recess 7 in the distributor bar 1.

The width of the retaining clip leg 11, 12 also may be selected to differ from the illustration of FIG. 1, however, to be larger or smaller than the width 15 of the recesses 7, so long as the detents covered in the representation of FIG. 1 have a width, which corresponds approximately to the length 15 of the recesses 7, in order to permit the most fixed engagement as possible of the detents with the recesses 7 of the distributor bar 1.

The width 14 of the connecting bar 13 is largely independent from the width of the retaining clip leg 11, 12 and can, if necessary, have a larger or also smaller width in comparison to the length 15 of the recess 7 or the width of the retaining clip leg 11, 12.

The illustration of FIG. 1 shows the retaining clip 9 in the state of being snapped together with the distributor bar 1. In this connection, the retaining clip 9 contacts substantially the ends 16, 17 of the first and the second leg 4, 5 of the distributor bar 1 and the hidden detents are engaged in the corresponding recesses 7 of the distributor bar 1. For releasing the retaining clip 9 from the distributor bar 1, the retaining clip legs 11, 12 are pushed apart or spread apart, until the retaining clip 9 may be removed from the distributor bar 1.

A variation in particular of the width 14 of the connecting bar 13, independent from the width of the retaining clip legs 11, 12 and the detents location thereon is of interest when modules 3 with different width dimensions are combined for forming a module series 2 and are strung together on the distributor bar 1 and the retaining clip 9 without mechanical play should follow up to the outermost module 3 of the module series 2 (length equalization in the longitudinal direction of the distributor bar). To this purpose, the retaining clip 9 is manufactured with preferably stepped, standardized width dimensions, in particular with different widths 14 of the connecting bar 13 and with the mounting of the module 3 to the distributor bar 1 held ready. The width of the retaining clip leg 11, 12 may remain unchanged in this regard or also may be adapted to the respective width 14 of the connecting bar 13.

Instead of using retaining clips 9 with connecting bars 13 of different widths, also “dummy” or “blind” modules (intermediate pieces) with correspondingly stepped, standardized width dimensions, however, without a specialized electrical and/or electronic function, may be disposed in this for performing the length equalization in the longitudinal direction 10 of the distributor bar 1 or the module series 2.

The use of retaining clips 9 with in particular connecting bars 13 of different lengths or the use of “dummy” modules, that is, of intermediate pieces with no further functionality—apart from length equalization—makes possible the use of the retaining clips 9 of the present invention on both sides of the module series 2 formed on a distribute bar 1.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional representation through a retaining clip.

The first retaining clip leg 11 forms together with the second retaining clip leg 12 as well as the connecting bar 13 the retaining clip 9 of the present invention with the substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry. In end regions 18, 19 of the retaining clip legs 11, 12, detents 20, 21 are disposed. The detents 20, 21 preferably have a trapezoid cross-sectional geometry with respective beveled detent surfaces 22 to 27. The slightly beveled (inclined) detent surfaces 22 to 27 facilitate the snapping together with the recesses 7 of the distributor bar 1.

The connecting bar 13 has in the region of the first or the second retaining clip leg 11, 12, respectively, a different material thickness 28, 29. In this manner, the retaining clip 9 may be snapped onto a distributor bar 1 with legs 4, 5 of different height. Departing from the representation in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting bar 13 may have an approximately constant material thickness 28, 29 over its entire longitudinal extension. Based on the different material thickness 28, 29, an inclined cut 31 exists beneath the underside 30 of the connecting bar 13. In the state of being locked together with the distributor bar 1, the underside 30 of the retaining clip 1 rests essentially on the ends 16, 17 of the first and second legs 4, 5 of the distributor bar 1 and the detents 20, 21 are engaged in the corresponding recesses 7 of the distributor bar 1. The detents 20, 21 may extend over the entire, end-sided width of the retaining clip legs 11, 12 or have a smaller width. In the interest of the most fixed seating of the retaining clip 9 on the distributor bar 1 as possible, the detents 20, 21 have a width, which corresponds approximately to the width of the retaining clip legs 11, 12. Alternatively, the detents 20, 21 may have a smaller width than the retaining clip legs 11, 12. For an optimal seating of the retaining clip 9, the width or the height of the detents 20, 21 should correspond approximately to the length 15 or a height of the recesses 7 in the distributor bar 1.

The connecting bar 13 has one or more recesses, not shown in detail, in a preferred embodiment, in particular, in the form of through-going cylindrical bores or oval bores (slots). A suitable attachment tool, for example, a screwdriver or the like, may be guided through the bore in the connecting bar for attaching the distributor bar to a subconstruction, not shown in the figures, by attachment screws, so that a premature snapping out of the retaining clip or the retaining clips no longer is necessary. This situation may occur, in particular, when the length of the module series—including the retaining clip or retaining clips on both sides—corresponds approximately to the total length of the distributor bar and the attachment screws for fixing the distributor bar on the substructure are covered by the connecting bars of the retaining clip or retaining clips.

The retaining clip 9 preferably is formed with a plastic material, in particular, with a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic or duroplastic material, in order to achieve, for one, a sufficient elasticity for spreading apart or pushing part the retaining clip legs 11, 12 upon snapping of and to permit a easy snapping together capability of the retaining clip 9 with the recesses 7 in the distributor bar 1. The use of a plastic material for manufacturing the retaining clip 9 ensures, on the other hand, a sufficient electrical insulation.

As a result of the fast and, if necessary, again releasable snapping together ability of the retaining clip 9 of the present invention with the distributor bar 1, substantial facilitation of mounting and time savings are provided, compared with known end pieces for distributor bars, which must be secured by screwing on onto the distributor bar 1.

An additional securing from unintended release of the retaining clip 9 from the distributor bar 1, which takes place with the known end pieces, for example, with a fixing wire guided through the attachment screws, may be eliminated without substitution, whereby further facilitation of mounting is provided.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment variation of the retaining clip of the present invention.

A retaining clip 32 has a connecting bar 33 for connecting a first and second retaining clip leg 34, 35. In contrast to the previously described embodiment of the retaining clip 9, this embodiment variation has two detents 36, 37 and 38, 39 on each of the first and second retaining clip legs 36, 37 on the ends 40, 41 of the retaining clip legs 34, 35. The retaining clip legs 34, 35 further have, respectively, slots 42, 43. The slots 42, 43 make possible, upon snapping on of the retaining slip 32 to the distributor bar 1, among other things an independent movement of the detents 36 through 39 in relation to one another. In addition, the slots 42, 43 impart the retaining clip legs 34, 35 with a higher flexibility. The slots 42, 43 in the retaining clip legs 34, extend from the ends 40, 41 to a depth 44 in the respective retaining clip leg 34, 35. This depth may amount to ⅔ of the height 45 of the retaining clip legs 34, 35.

Departing from the embodiment variation shown in FIG. 3, the number of detents on the retaining clip legs may be greater than two. In addition, also more than one slot per retaining clip leg may be provided.

It should be noted that the term ‘comprising’ does not exclude other elements or steps and the ‘a’ or ‘an’ does exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.

It should be noted that the reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

-   1 distributor bar -   2 module series -   3 module -   4 first leg (distributor bar) -   5 second leg (distributor bar) -   6 back wall (distributor bar) -   7 recess -   8 end region (distributor bar) -   9 retaining clip -   10 longitudinal direction (distributor bar) -   11 first retaining clip leg -   12 second retaining clip leg -   13 connecting bar -   14 width (connecting bar) -   15 length (recess) -   16 end (first leg) -   17 end (second leg) -   18 end region -   19 end region -   detent -   21 detent -   22 detent surface -   23 detent surface -   24 detent surface -   25 detent surface -   26 detent surface -   27 detent surface -   28 material thickness -   29 material thickness -   30 underside (connecting bar) -   31 recess (beveled) -   32 retaining clip -   33 connecting bar -   34 first retaining clip leg -   35 second retaining clip leg -   36 detent (first retaining clip leg) -   37 detent (first retaining clip leg) -   38 detent (second retaining clip leg) -   39 detent (second retaining clip leg) -   40 end -   41 end -   42 slot -   43 slot -   44 depth (slot) -   45 height (retaining clip leg) 

1. A retaining clip or releasable fixing of a plurality of modules strung together on a distributor bar for forming a module series, whereby the distributor bar comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry with a first and a second leg, a back wall, and the first and the second legs comprise a plurality of recesses, wherein the retaining clip comprises: a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional geometry with a first and second retaining clip leg, and a connecting bar between the first and the second retaining clip leg, wherein the first and the second retaining clip leg each comprise at least one detent, which_may be brought from the outside into two respective, opposite recesses of the distributor bar, such that the retaining clip may be snapped by mounting onto the distributor bar for securing the modules of the module series from lateral displacement in a longitudinal direction of the distributor bar.
 2. The retaining clip, of claim 1, wherein an underside of the connecting bar of the retaining clip in a state of being snapped together with the distributor bar, rests substantially on respective ends of the first and second legs of the distributor bar and engages over the distributor bar, whereby the detents may be inserted in a substantially positive-locking manner into the corresponding recesses of the distributor bar.
 3. The retaining clip of claim 1, wherein the retaining clip is releasable from the distributor bar by pushing apart the retaining clip legs.
 4. The retaining clip of claim 1, wherein the detents comprise at least two beveled detent surfaces.
 5. The retaining clip of claim 1, wherein the connecting bar at least partially comprises a different material thickness and includes an inclined recess.
 6. The retaining clip of claim 1, wherein at least the connecting bar comprises different widths, in order to make possible a length equalization in the longitudinal direction of the distributor bar.
 7. The retaining clip of claim 1, wherein the connecting bar comprises at least one cylindrical or oval bore.
 8. The retaining clip of claim 1, wherein the retaining clip is formed as one piece with a plastic material. 